Supreme Court Dismisses Fubara’s Appeal Against Pro-Wike Lawmakers
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the factional leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by embattled Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Dismissing the appeal after Governor Fubara applied to withdraw the case because events had overtaken the issues that led to the appeal, the five-member panel presided by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji held that issues had been joined in the matter thus awarded the sum of N2 million in costs against the governor.
Earlier, the governor’s counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), had applied to withdraw the matter, explaining that it has been overtaken by events.
However, lawyers to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Joseph Daudu (SAN), who did not oppose the application, requested that the matter be dismissed and not just struck out.
The appeal was on the case seeking to remove the 27 members of the State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recalled that on October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja had dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal against the 27 lawmakers on the grounds that he (the Governor) has no basis to bring the appeal having withdrawn his opposition to the case of the pro-Wike lawmakers at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Joseph Oyewole, had in a majority judgement, held that the governor, having voluntarily withdrawn from the case, cannot claim to be aggrieved with the judgment of the Federal High Court.
Accordingly, the appellate court barred Governor Fubara from interfering with the affairs of the House of Assembly under any circumstances
Additionally, the Appeal Court barred the governor from withholding the House of Assembly funds as well as removing the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Assembly from their positions.
